Every year in August, the Arizona Department of Economic Security recognizes Child Support Awareness Month. This year a Family Connection Fun Day is planned in Phoenix.

The Division of Child Support Services is committed to assisting parents in realizing their financial responsibilities, updating and maintaining open, continuous, consumer-friendly communications, and engaging with parents and diverse family structures, to assist them towards greater self-sufficiency to attain the best results for Arizona's children.

211 Arizona is our key source of integrated information that brings people and services together to meet vital needs. Learn about Heat Relief Locations, Hydration Stations, Summer Food Locations, Sun Safety tips, Monsoon Safety, and much more by visiting them online at www.211arizona.org/summer.

CommunityModel a different kind of Resource Fair

The West Valley Human Services Alliance, serving communities in the western part of the metro-Phoenix area, hosted a resource fair for foster families, grandparents raising grandchildren, kinship families, and other resource families who care for children in foster care. Many of these families are overwhelmed, and unfamiliar with how to navigate in their communities. The Alliance wanted to do something about it.

The event brought 20 community organizations together with the singular purpose of helping these families find resources that will help them and the children in their care. Area of focus included Support Groups, Health Care, Kinship Support, Entertainment, Behavioral Health, Activities/Clubs/Camps, Counseling, Services/Benefits, Household/Personal items, and much more.

If you would like to learn how to bring a Foster Family Resource Fair to your community, contact the West Valley Human Services Alliance today at http://wvhsa.acfbci.org/contact-us/

CommunityGroups Plug in for Good

People meet regularly to discuss safety net issues and opportunities in their local communities. These meetings are open to the public and free to attend.

Synergy - The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

Individuals and organizations tend to dream, design, plan, implement and evaluate without much outside help; without much synergy - especially when times are good. When life is humming along just fine, we sometimes think or say things like, 'I don't like their idea, mine is better,' or 'if you want it done right, you have to do it yourself,' or 'this is my event - they'll just have to figure it out themselves.'

But when times are a little tougher, we might think or say things like, 'I could use a little help with this,' or 'maybe they need some help with their event,' or 'if we don't come together on this, how will these families make it?' Tough times tend to teach us about the power of synergy.

The key phrase in the definition of synergy is 'their combined effect is greater.' Finding new ways to collaborate, partner and share is more important today than ever. Coming together in our communities provides a greater combined effect. Happily, we see this happening in communities all across Arizona. If you would like to share a story that illustrates synergy from your community, send details to community@azdes.gov.

CommunityQuotes Short and Sweet

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. H. G. Wells

Get well cards are so humorous that if you don't get sick you're missing half the fun. Flip Wilson

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. Steve Martin

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. Buddy Hackett

I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific. Lily Tomlin

CommunityConnect Tell us your story

If you would like to see your group or collaboration featured in an upcoming issue of CommunityConnect, please send us a note at community@azdes.gov.